Swath turner



April 29, 1958 w. J. MCINTYRE SWATH TURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1956 I sa f//WQM y//As/flll! IH VEN To WML/AM J Half/TWEE April 29, 195s w. J. MCINTYRE 2,832,189

' SWATH TURNER Filed June 4, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVEITOK SWATH TURNER Wiiiiarn .1. Mcllntyre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada Application .lune 4i, 1956, Serial No. 589,163

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in the swath turning devices, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a device 'of the character herewithin described which is adapted to be drawn behind a source of power and which includes at horizontally rotating swath turning wheel adapted to en gage the side of the swath being turned. t

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which enables an extremely gentle action to be imparted to the swath thereby turning same with the mini-mum of Idisturbance to the form thereof.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which, when used with two swath turning wheels, can be used to gather the swath into a relatively narrow path ready for combining.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which not only turns the swath gently, but also gathers in any loose straw at the side of the swath and deposits same on the swath.

Still another object of my invention is to Iprovide a device of the character herewithin described which can be utilized to the rear of a combine whereby the next ladjacent swath is gently turned over for extra drying action so that it is ready for the lcombine when the next circuit of the eld is made.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well-suited to the purpose for which it is designed. n

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is the top plan view of one embodiment of my device.

Figure 2 is a yfront elevation with parts broken away and shown in section of the device shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of my device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially along the lines 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially along the lines 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially along the lines 6 6 of Figure 3.

in the drawings like characters o-f reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding iirst to describe the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that I have provided a framework collectively designated 1 consisting of a longitudinal tube 2 having a hitch 3 upon the front ends thereof by which it may be secured to a source of power such as a tractor or the like (not illustrated).

Adjacent the rear end 3 of the longitudinal tube Z is situated a wheel axle i having ground engaging wheels 5 journalled for rotation at either end thereof. Intermediate the ends of axle Li is a sleeve 6 secured to the axle by means i and having a stern tube `i5 extending upwardly therefrom.

A clamp assembly collectively designated 9 includes a vertical tube 1li adapted to surround the stern tube 8 and slidable vertically therealong, the location of the tube 10 upon the stern tube 8 being controlled `by clamp screw 11.

Situated at right angles to the tube 10 is a further tube 12, it being understood that this tube is welded to the tube 10.

This tube .i2 is engageable around the longitudinal framework tube 2 and adapted to slide thereal-ong, the location being controlled by means of clamp screw 13 and it will be appreciated that stern tube 8 is thus located to one side of the longitudinal tube 2 but in `order to`cen tre the wheels equidistant upon each side of the tube 2, the sleeve 6 is secured to the axle 4 to one side of the centre thereof.

A swath turning wheel collectively designated 14 is mounted upon a spindle 15 secured to and depending from the longitudinal tube 2. of framework forwardly of the wheels 5. The lower end of this spindle 15 is reduced to form bearing shaft 16 and the hub 17 of `the wheel 1liis journalled `for rotation upon this portion of the shaft, `conventional nut and washer means 18 retaining the hub upon the spindle.

A plurality of spokes 19 extend radiallyA outward from the hub 17 and a time carrying ring in the form of tube 20 is secured to the extremities of the spokes.

A plurality of swath engaging tines 21 are secured by bolts 22 around the perimeter or ring 2t), said tines being formed of resilient material and having loop 23 for-med thereinfto assist this resiliency. t

Brackets 2d are also secured to the ring 20 `and extend upwardly therefrom and a metallic shroud 25 is secured to the brackets and extends circumferentially around the Wheel and above the ring 2t?.

In operation, the sleeve clamp assembly 9 is adjusted so that the lower end 26 of the tines is just clear of the ground and so that the forward portions 27 of the ground engaging wheels 5 are adjacent to the tines 21 of the swath turning wheel llfl.

The device is drawn alor.n the side of a swath (not illustrated) so that the tines 2.1 upon one side of the swath turning wheels 14 engage against the side `of the swath thus causing the swath turning wheels to rotate and to push or roll the swath over.

The tines, due to the rotation of the wheels 14, sweep up any portions of the swath that are displaced therefrom and deposit them upon the swath and any straws or the like which engage the tines and are carried around thereby, are swept clear of the tines by the portion 27 of the ground engaging wheels 5 which are in close proximity thereto.

The shroud 25 extending upwardly above the ring 20 prevents any of the swath from being displaced and `falling inwardly towards the centre of the swath turning wheels 14.

In Figures l and 2, a modilied embodiment of the device is shown particularly adaptable for gathering the swath into a relatively narrow band.

In this embodiment the framework collectively desigm nated 28 consists of a pair of tubular `members 29 diverging rearwardly from the tractor hitch Sill.

Adjacent to the rear end 31 of the members 29 I have E@ Patented Apr. 29, 1958 lprovided an `axle 32 clamped to the members 31, said axle carrying ground engaging wheels 33 upon the ends thereof externally of the members 29.

A cross-bar 34 spans the members 29 at right Iangles and extends outwardly on either side thereof, said crossbar being secured to the members 29 by means of U- bolts 35.

A sleeve 36 is slidably engageable upon the ends 37 of the cross-bar 34, the position yof the sleeve being controlled by means of clamp screws 3S.

Spindles 39 are pivotally connected for adjustable positioning to clamp 36 by means of clamp screws 40 and swath turning wheels 41 are journalled for rotation in a horizontal plane upon the lower ends of the spindle.

The construction of the swath turning wheels 41 and the mounting thereof upon the spindles 39 is similar to that hereinbefore described.

In operation of this embodiment, the horizontal spacing of the swath turning wheels 41 is `controlled by clamp sleeve 36 and also the inclination `of the swath turning wheels to the ground is `controlled by the `clamp 4).

The device is drawn by means of a tractor or the like so that the swath to be collected passes between the wheels and the engagement of the innermost tines with the sides of the swath causes the wheels 41 to revolve in i the direction of 'arrows 42 thus gathering the swath in and depositing same in a relatively narrow band between the frame members 29, the ground engaging wheels 33 passing upon each side `of the swath.

Since various modications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently Widely different embodiments of same made Within the spirit Iand scope of the claims without departing from` such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be inter* preted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I lclaim as my invention is: f

1. A swath turning `device adapted to be drawn by a source of power, comprising in combination a framework, ground engaging wheels supporting one end of said frame- Work, the other end `of said framework adapted to be supported by said source of power, at least one swath turning wheel mounted forrotation below said framework between the ends thereof, said wheel being mounted y in substantially a horizontal plane, means to `adjust the angle of inclination of the wheel, and swath engaging 'tines depending downwardly yfrom the perimeter of said wheel, said swath turning wheel including a spindle secured to -and depending from said framework, a hub journalled for rotation upon said spindle, a tine carrying ring, spokes extending from said ring to said hub for supporting said tine carrying ring, said swath engaging tines `being secured to said ring, and a circumferential shroud secured to said ring and extending upwardly therefrom.

2. The device according to `claim 1 in which said framework consists of .a substantially tubular longitudinal member, an axle for said ground engaging wheels, a stern post extending upwardly from said axle intermediate the ends thereof, `clamp means securing said stern post to Y said longitudinal member, said clamp means permitting vertical adjustment upon said stern post and longitudinal adjustment upon `said framework.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said framework includes a pair of longitudinal members diverging rearwardly from the yforward end thereof, and a swath turning wheel mounted for rotation in substantially a horizontal plane one upon each side of said framework.

4. The device according to `claim 3 which includes a cross-bar spanning said framework and extending outwardly upon either yside thereof, means for mounting said `swath turning wheels upon said cross-bar, said means for mounting said swath turning wheels including a pair of sleeves slidable along said cross-bar and a spindle pivotally secured to each of said sleeves and depending therefrom, said swath turning wheels being journalled for rotation upon the lower ends yof said spindles.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,267 Sharp Nov. 14, 1867 2,710,519 Winter June 14, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS `16,403 Great Britain July 17I 1911 

